Following their triumphant return in 2020 with Forever Black, underground US heavy metal legends Cirith Ungol return here a year later through the haze of COVID19 with a four track EP called Half Past Human, which contains songs that have plenty of history with the band but never included on any of their past albums. Why not give them a fresh take here in 2021 and let the fans hear them all for the first time? That's exactly what they have done. Tim Baker's trademark snarl jumps right out at you on opener "Route 666", supported by some terrific riffing & lead guitar stylings courtesy of Jim Barraza & Greg Lindstrom, while the headbanging "Shelob's Lair" is a hell of a metal anthem, potent riffs and the pulverizing drums of Robert Garven providing the framework for Baker's gravelly screams...this one absolutely cooks! Plenty of harmony lead guitar histrionics adorn the thumping "Brutish Manchild", while the opening acoustic guitar strains of the title track eventually give way to doom laden progressive metal, acrobatic drums and layers of guitars providing for plenty of drama as Baker spews his venom over the topic.
Once these four crushing heavy metal gems have finished, you'll be dying for more, so as a stopgap before a hopefully eventual follow-up to Forever Black and some live dates, Half Past Human absolutely does its job, and does it well. Cirith Ungol are back ladies and gentleman, and back with a vengeance!
Track Listing
1) Route 666
2) Shelob's Lair
3) Brutish Manchild
4) Half Past Human
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